The car stopped at a hidden spot some distance from the factory building.
The group got out of the car.
Lu Shiyan unfolded a simple map: "The South District Abandoned Factory has several entrances and exits. The main gate is too conspicuous. A Mo, you go to the side gate. Xiao Han takes the back gate. Su Wan and I will take the small path on the east side. We'll scout the perimeter first, then rendezvous."
"Understood." A Mo nodded, patting his pant pocket, "We all have signal flares."
The South District Abandoned Factory was very close to the base, an old, mottled complex of buildings overgrown with weeds and with crumbling walls. Most of the surrounding walls had already collapsed, and broken bricks and tiles were piled up like mountains.
Su Wan followed Lu Shiyan, walking along a small path on the east side. Her eyes scanned back and forth, trying to find the symbol mentioned in the book.
"Why did you insist on coming?" Lu Shiyan stared at her, "Is it really just because you heard your father mention this place?"
"I... I once accidentally overheard one of my dad's subordinates mention that the South District Abandoned Factory... seemed to have something illicit hidden there, related to firearms. I didn't pay attention at the time, but later when I saw the mission location, I remembered what he said, and it just felt... too coincidental. I was afraid you'd think I was overthinking it if I said it, but I just felt I had to come and see."
Lu Shiyan was silent for a few seconds.
"Stay close to me, don't wander off."
The factory area was much larger than imagined, filled with abandoned machinery and rusty iron frames. The air was filled with a scent of decay and dust, mixed with a certain indescribable stench.
"Be careful." Lu Shiyan reached out to stop Su Wan, pointing to the ground ahead.
A giant spider web almost covered the entire passage, and several dried-up small animal corpses were stuck to it.
"A mutated spider's nest marker." Lu Shiyan whispered, "We'll have to go around."
Just as they were about to turn into another passage, a muffled thud came from a distance, like something heavy hitting the ground.
Lu Shiyan immediately pulled Su Wan behind a pile of abandoned machinery and made a shushing gesture.
Footsteps. More than one person. "Be lighter! Idiot!" A familiar female voice came, her lowered voice full of malice, "Don't alert 'those things', let others scout ahead."
It was the woman with the colorful hair from the Hyena Squad!
Su Wan's heart tightened, and she instinctively leaned closer to Lu Shiyan.
"Don't worry, Lily." Another male voice responded, "Once they've worn themselves out, we'll step in and clean up the mess. Lord Scorpion likes things neat and tidy."
"Heh, this batch of goods is good." Lily laughed sinisterly, "Especially that greenhorn kid, thinks he can show off here just because he has some ability? Send him to feed the spiders!"
The footsteps gradually faded away.
Only after confirming they were gone did Lu Shiyan release Su Wan's hand.
"They're after us." Su Wan whispered, her heart pounding.
Lu Shiyan snorted coldly: "Good, saves me the trouble of finding them."
His eyes were as cold as ice, and the hidden killing intent within them sent a shiver down Su Wan's spine.
"Lu—"
"Shh!"
Lu Shiyan suddenly pulled Su Wan, shielding her tightly behind him.
Less than three meters in front of them, a giant spider slowly descended from the ceiling, its eight red compound eyes gleaming with an eerie light.
A mutated spider!
Its grotesque body was the size of a small car, its glossy black exoskeleton covered in sharp spines, and the barbs on its eight long legs glinted coldly in the sunlight. Its mandibles slowly opened, revealing sharp fangs, and dripping saliva made a "hissing" sound on the ground, corroding small pits.
Su Wan almost screamed, but Lu Shiyan quickly covered her mouth. With his other hand, he slowly drew the dagger from his waist, his eyes fixed on the monster.
The spider seemed to sense something, slowly turning its massive head and probing in their direction.
Just at this critical moment, a loud bang suddenly came from a distance, followed by a burst of gunfire.
The spider stopped its advance, its head abruptly turning towards the sound, and then it quickly scurried away.
"Xiao Han and them!" Su Wan blurted out.
Lu Shiyan: "It's a trap."
He quickly pulled out a short knife and handed it to Su Wan: "Take this, protect yourself. I'm going to support them, you stay here, understand?"
As Lu Shiyan was about to leave, Su Wan grabbed his sleeve, her knuckles white: "Don't... don't leave me alone! Those people... the Hyena Squad must be nearby, what if they find me, or if that spider comes back... I only have one knife, I..."
Lu Shiyan was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "Stay close to me, don't leave my side for a single step. If there's danger, hide immediately, don't try to be a hero, remember?"
"I remember!"
The two moved quickly in the direction of the sound.
After passing through several corridors and turning a corner, they saw chaos in a spacious workshop ahead.
Xiao Han was grappling with the giant spider, his Wind Ability forming blades of air that slashed at the spider's legs. A Mo, on the other hand, was being surrounded by two slightly smaller spiders; although he was incredibly strong, he seemed a bit flustered.
Even worse, not far behind them, three members of the Hyena Squad were aiming their guns at the unsuspecting Xiao Han and A Mo. The woman named Lily had a sinister smile on her face, her finger already on the trigger.
Lu Shiyan's body temperature suddenly dropped.
"Heh, trash." His voice was icy.
Su Wan saw a ball of lightning appear in his palm.
The next second, he vanished from his spot.
Su Wan only saw three black blurs flash by.
A piercing scream echoed throughout the workshop.
Lily's head was twisted at an unnatural angle, her eyes wide with shock. The gun in her hand dropped to the ground with a crisp clatter.
The man next to her, who had tried to play peacemaker, spun around, raising his gun to shoot.
However, his muzzle pointed at empty air.
A line of blood appeared on the back of his neck. A second later, blood gushed out like a fountain.
The third burly man, Jimmy, reacted the fastest. He raised his gun and sprayed bullets wildly around him, roaring furiously: "Come out! You coward! Come out!"
Lu Shiyan reappeared, right behind him.
Jimmy sensed something and sharply turned his head, his gun almost touching Lu Shiyan's chest.
Before he could pull the trigger, a cold glint flashed in Lu Shiyan's eyes, and his hand, covered in dazzling lightning, had already clamped onto Jimmy's gun-holding wrist like a steel claw.
A violent current instantly surged through Jimmy's entire body, making him let out a short, mournful cry, his body convulsing violently, and his gun clattered to the ground.
Before Jimmy could react, Lu Shiyan's other hand had transformed into a lightning-wrapped afterimage, striking heavily across his throat.
Jimmy's eyes widened, blood gushing from between his fingers as his body softly collapsed.
"You... you..." Jimmy's eyes widened, blood pouring from his mouth.
He withdrew his hand, and Jimmy crashed to the ground.
The entire process took less than ten seconds.
Su Wan stood frozen, her heart pounding. Lu Shiyan's killing was clean and decisive. She had almost forgotten that he had such a terrifying side.
Three corpses lay sprawled, blood pooling into puddles. Lu Shiyan, expressionless, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his fingertips.